Aundair

Summary
Aundair is one of the five nations of the original Kingdom of Galifar. Although much of its western forest territory has now become the The Eldeen Reaches, Aundair still possesses beautiful swaths of fertile fields that supply the nations of Khorvaire with food and fine wines while large institutions of higher learning output scholars and knowledge.

Much of Aundair’s boundaries are marked by natural geographical features. The Wynarn River and Lake Galifar in the west, The Blackcaps to the south, the Eldeen Bay in the north, and Scions Sound and Aundair River in the northwest. The only border not so demarcated is that between Aundair and Thrane, its neighbor to the east. Breland sits to the south and the newly formed The Eldeen Reaches borders the west. The Lightning Rail passes through the larger cities of Passage and Fairhaven while House Orien roadways network through to smaller cities and westward to the The Eldeen Reaches.

Aundair’s people are a model of duality. Split between rugged hard working agriculturalists and learned, bookish individuals the “typical” Aundarian is anything but. Metropolises bustle with activity as two major dragonmarked house enclaves and two centers of learning draw heavy business, while solitary monasteries dot the landscape where monks live in almost complete solitude, rarely venturing from their homes. Aundair’s temperate climate and fertile soil make it a haven for good farmland and Aundair’s wine is especially well known across Khorvaire. Two great centers of learning reside in Aundair, The University of Wynarn and the floating city of arcane study Arcanix. Both of these institutions have suffered from a lack of students during the Last War, but admissions are increasing yearly.

Aundairians are known for their somewhat arrogant attitudes. Although arrogance is hardly a trait unique in the Five Nations, the Aundarians learn at a young age the results of a strong will in competition with others. That is not to say that every Aundarian is stubborn, or thick-headed, but that they will not easily concede a point they believe to be right, and indeed public duels have become a staple of Aundarian society; so much that many Aundarians have adopted names for specific maneuvers and styles used in duels.

Aundair is big and roads network throughout the nation making travel easy. Most Aundarians live away from major cities in farmlands, but still remain connected to their local cities and towns; thus Aundarian horsemanship is second only to the elves of Valenar

Brief History

In -1502 CY the humans who had spread over Khorvaire formed five distinct settlements. These settlements would become the Five Nations of Thaliost, Wroat, Metrol, Karrnath, and Daskara. The nation that would become Aundair was then known as Thaliost. In -802 CY the Mark of Handling appeared among humans in Thaliost.

During the last war, Aundair spent most of its time in warfare against either Thrane or Karrnath, and the loss of Thaliost to Thrane bristles Aundairian national pride to this day. During the Last War, the The Eldeen Reaches seceded from Aundair, causing the nation to lose one half of its total area, along with one fifth of its population. The Knights Arcane bravely fought for Aundair, along with peasant militias. Aundairian military tactics emphasized maneuver with light cavalry, with magical support from wands.

Notable People and Organizations

  • Queen Aurala Wynarn
  • The Knights Arcane
  • Lord Darro, Leader of the Knights Arcane
  • First Warlord Adal (also Royal Minister of Magic)
  • Royal Eyes
  • The Arcane Congress

Notable Cities and Locations

  • Fairhaven (Capital)
  • Arcanix
  • Passage (Enclave of House Orien)
  • Stormhome (Enclave of House Lyrandar)
  • Marketplace
  • Starpeaks Observatory

GM Notes
Thinking of Aundair as being similar to France in the era of Louis XIV is a good start, if not exactly a 1:1 conversion.

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Aundair

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